Feast of Moulid El-Nabi c. 1880

Curator: This sepia-toned photograph captures "Feast of Moulid El-Nabi," attributed to G. Lékégian. Editor: It has a wonderful atmospheric quality, quite dreamlike actually. The soft focus lends a sense of distance, almost as if observing a memory. Curator: I find myself drawn to the materiality of the tents—the way fabric is draped and constructed speaks volumes about ritual and the labour involved in such a large public celebration. Editor: Note how the hanging lanterns add a rhythmic visual element, drawing the eye upward. What’s fascinating is the play of light and shadow. Curator: The photograph is undeniably a product of its time. How was it circulated? Who was its intended audience, and how did they consume it? Editor: A lovely study of form and light that beautifully captures a sense of joyous occasion. Curator: Yes, a great starting point for further inquiry.